Frequently Asked Questions About Voice and Speech Training
My voice is fine until I have to speak at a meeting, what can I do? Our training helps you to deliver whatever it is you want to say. We can't give you the words, we can only advise on circumstances, but we can give you the confidence that voice training with preparation gives you.
I've noticed that people get bored during my presentations. Our training helps to release your voice and with it comes a vitality and a direct communication with your audience. We give specialist presentation one to one training and courses with voice preparation and practical techniques to involve your audience at all times.
I've been asked by my company to represent them in the media. I'm usually fine but I'm worried that a microphone and camera will put me off.
It's a question of practice. We'll go through exercises that are right for you and then you can experience what it's like a few times before you face the media.
I'm an enthusiastic and successful teacher, but I feel my voice is beginning to fail me. Thanks for contacting us - we need more teachers like you. We'll help you to connect with your voice in a physical way so that your voice doesn't take the strain of your enthusiasm. You'll find that voice training will help you with your overall energy.
I really want to succeed in my chosen profession. I have above average results in my exams but I'm finding it difficult to be accepted and to move on. I went to a career's advisor who told me I should improve the way I sound. Can you help? Yes. We've helped many people in your position.
Frequently asked questions about our Elocution and Speak English Clearly Courses
1. How long will it take until I make a marked improvement after a
"Speak English Clearly" course?
You will feel the improvement straightaway. Your continued development will depend on how often you practice and have conversations with people using the sounds you've learned. It will also help if you listen and watch programmes with Standard English speakers. The more you prepare and give talks or presentations in English, the better. The more you prepare and tell stories using the sounds you've learned, the better. Keep targeting the sounds that are the most difficult for you
by using the relevant tracks on the "Speak English Clearly" CDs.
2. How will I know how to pronounce words that are not included in your course? After the course you will have all the phonetic spelling of Standard English
and you can use the phonetic symbols to give you the correct sounds - just
look up the relevant word in Longman's or Daniel Jones' dictionaries. You
can also call us at the office during working hours.
3. Why is your "Speak English Clearly" course successful? The course has been designed step by step to allow people to learn through
hearing, seeing and feeling. Before they begin to learn any sounds they
learn and feel how the voice works and how the voice flows through to the
speech in Standard English. Once the sounds start to flow, confidence grows
and imagination takes them to the next step and the next. Exaggeration of the
sounds is essential at the beginning. We have a lot of fun on the courses.
4. How many people do you have on a "Speak English Clearly" course? It depends.
On our studio courses, we take a maximum of five to seven people.
On our in-house Corporate courses, we can take a maximum of 12 people.
This is because we include additional teaching aids and prepare for the
Company's targeted needs beforehand.
5. Is it better to have one to one training for the "Speak English Clearly" course or is it better to join a group? Constrictions of time usually mean that it's better for some people to have
one to one training. One to one training is more suitable for those who
have particular vocal training needs, in addition to clarity of speech needs.
Sometimes people ask for one to one training when they have overall
clarity of speech but need exercises to eradicate vocal or speech habits
that they don't like.
6. English is my second language how long will it take to get rid of my accent? When people ask me this question we always reply with another question -
"Do you really want to completely rid your speech of its accent?"
In our experience, an accent, providing it doesn't cloud your speech
or mask other peoples' understanding of what you're saying, is a
valuable asset. Clarity, and the understanding of how English sounds
are made, is what gives people confidence. You will never completely
lose the rhythm of your first language, which will add colour to your spoken
English. People will be too busy listening to what you're saying to bother
about whether or not English is your first language.
7. English is my first language but I'm from Australia/ South Africa/New Zealand/America and need to speak Standard English for professional reasons. Will I be able to do it? Yes. It takes time. Gradually all the sounds take root. You can't force a change of accent otherwise you'll start concentrating on how you sound instead of what you're saying and that is………….well, unreal! This is what some actors had to do twenty years or so ago and audiences' toes would curl in sympathy.
8. I think I've got a good grasp of how to speak English but people complain that they can't hear me - should I take a "Speak English Clearly" course? It may be that you're speaking too quickly or that you aren't connecting to your voice in some way. It may be better for you to come on a "Use of Voice" course. Please email us your telephone number and we'll call you to discuss this further.
9. My English grammar is perfect and I only need help with my clarity of English for Presentations and Conference Calls. If I take a "Speak English Clearly" course will I be in a group of people with the same needs? All the people on our "Speak English Clearly courses have to be working using English or be Post Graduate/ Third Year Students who've taken their exams in English.
We're currently developing a week-long immersion programme in English with the language expert Juliette Scott. This will be residential and combine English grammar with Standard English pronunciation for people with little or no knowledge of the English language.
This will be available in 2008.
